ELMIRA, N.Y. (WENY) - The Elmira Mammoth hockey organization in the FPHL is beginning to take shape. As the season approached this fall, the team announced its first-ever head coach.

Former Elmira College men's hockey coach, Glenn Thomaris will lead the team behind the bench. Thomaris, who is currently an Elmira resident, coached the Soaring Eagles from 1987-2001 where he had a record of 269-123-14, and led EC to 7 NCAA Tournament appearances including a National Runner-Up finish in the 1987-88 season.

Thomaris also spent three years as an assistant coach for the Elmira Jackals, as well as five seasons at Potsdam State.

President of Mammoth Sports & Entertainment, Steve Donner officially introduced the team at First Arena in late April, announcing they would be joining the Federal Prospects Hockey League as part of a three-team expansion with the league growing to 10 teams. 

Thomaris is ready to be back behind the bench and build this new team. Donner says they had 8 great candidates for the job, but had a good feeling about Glenn.

"I'm going to have to figure out how to get my hockey voice back and my whistle going, that took a hiatus for a little while but I'm excited to be back and being in charge and showing everybody what kind of a team we can put together. Certainly, we want to win with them here" said Thomaris. "Hopefully, we get a little start with the draft and find the pieces of the puzzle that we can move in around there. There are other teams that are trying to get the better players. We can give them a good reason for them to come here, and we've got that with the facility and with the support from the community and the advertisers, I think we've got a good thing up on everybody.

"I think a thing that separated Glenn from almost every one of them was his intricate knowledge of this market. Our whole culture we're trying to build here is being good in the community, being great character people. You have to have a leader that has character and Glenn is brimming with character.

The Elmira Mammoth are set to open the season on Friday, October 15th when they travel to face the Binghamton Black Bears, then they will host Binghamton at First Arena for their home opener on Saturday, October 15th.